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ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, will further expand the capacity of its main manufacturing unit for high-power semiconductors in Lenzburg, Switzerland.

Semiconductors are at the heart of many leading ABB technologies, such as high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission systems, flexible alternating current transmission systems (FACTS), and variable speed drives.

ABB will invest $50 million to add production equipment to increase manufacturing capacity for high-voltage IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor) devices and modules. An IGBT is a power semiconductor device used for high efficiency and fast switching of electricity in power electronic circuits.

The expansion is expected to be completed by 2012, and will further strengthen ABB's leading market position in high-power semiconductors. This follows an earlier investment of about $150 million announced in 2009 to increase capacity and infrastructure at the Lenzburg facility, which resulted in the addition of more than 200 employees at the plant.

“This investment will increase our production capacity and ability to meet the growing demand for high-voltage power semiconductors” said Peter Leupp, head of ABB’s Power Systems division. “Semiconductors are key components for technologies that help address market needs such as integration of renewable energies, the development of critical infrastructure like power and rail and greater energy efficiency.”

The expansion of the existing facility will bring synergies and ensure optimum utilization of specific infrastructure such as clean rooms, research laboratories and test facilities required for the production of these high technology products with their exacting quality needs.

ABB (abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 124,000 people.

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